09.04.15: Closing Statements

Colombia’s El Tiempo published an article today in which it documents the plight of the first Colombians to be deported from Venezuela’s interior since the recent flare-up in tensions between the two countries.

Upon arrival in Colombia, 14 of the deportees filed complaints with Colombian authorities over the treatment they received during the deportation process. The complainants said that they had been jailed, separated from their families, and that – as El Tiempo puts it – they “went hungry”.

The People’s Defender in the Arauca department, Maria Esperanza Bermeo, warned that the department does not have any resources to deal with any influx of deportees. She said:

If the [central] government and the border municipalities of Aruca, Arauquita and Saravena do not establish a contingency plan right now, the situation for Colombians who choose to return through here will be very critical, since we have no means with which to look after them.

Minister of Defense’s Absence Raises Health Concerns

Minister of Defense Vladimir Padrino Lopez’s absence from the public eye in recent weeks has been all the more noted since the border crisis began with Colombia three weeks ago. While there have been unsubstantiated rumours that Lopez was suffering from a serious conditions – perhaps cancer – Quinto Dia‘s J.A. Almenar claims to have inside information regarding Padrino’s location and health. Almenar wrote:

[Padrino Lopez] does not have cancer, and what I’ve been told is that he had to be operated outside Venezuela. He’s recovering and will return in the next few weeks (…) I can assure you that he’s not in the Military Hospital, but in Cuba.

Almenar claims to have spoken to “an army officer” over Padrino Lopez’s condition, and claims that his health complications stem from an earlier prostate operation. According to Almenar, Padrino Lopez “didn’t take care of himself”, which caused the need for this latest operation.

Not a single document was signed in Cartagena with the Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister, Delcy Rodriguez.

Holguin said that the Venezuelan government has delayed meetings with the Colombian government on the matter 15 times. Holguin stressed the fact that the issue of smuggling affects both nations, and that it’s a difficult issue to control “without a joint effort”.

Rodriguez Responds to Holguin Comments on Colombian Migration

Holguin spoke before the Colombian Senate on Wednesday on the issue of Colombian migration into Venezuela. While the Venezuelan government continues to claim that there is a “massive exodus” of Colombians fleeing into Venezuela in search of a better life, Holguin gave her point of view on the situation of Colombians in the country:

Over the last ten years, they were promised an I.D. for voting, homes and subsidies; now, when they show their I.D.s, they’re destroyed.

A corridor for Colombian children living in Venezuela and study in Colombia has been opened. [They’ve] started to go back to school, some of them along with their families.

Maduro Shuffles Cabinet

Today, Maduro announced several changes to his cabinet as part of the lead-up to the December 6 parliamentary elections. He announced that several PSUV officials will leave their current posts so that they may officially begin their run for the National Assembly. The changes are:

Clara Vidal replaces Aloha Nuñez as Minister for Indigenous Peoples.

Brigadier General Jesus Salazar replaces Carmen Melendez as Minister for the Office of the President.

Jose Luis Bernardo replaces Haiman El Troudi as Minister of Land Transport and Public Owrks.

Leopoldo Lopez’s trial is expected to begin wrapping up y as the Voluntad Popular leader and his defense team are given the day to make their closing statements. Lopez – who is on trial alongside five students – will also be given the chance to speak, as will the students. Given the time restraints, it is unlikely that a sentence will be handed out today.